Eczema of the Dog. 859 



unfavorable anatomical conditions, ear wax and dirt easily 

 accumulate in the external meatus, wliicli then decompose and 

 form irritant substances. The process of decomposition is 

 favored by bandages on the head and the skin of the external 

 meatus is now and then macerated by penetrating water or by 

 medicines. The disease may also be produced by mechanical 

 injuries, such as scratching, rubbing, violent shaking and the 

 like, especially if animal parasites are present or if the meatus 

 is soiled Avitli substances which later decompose. Breed is of 

 importance inasmuch as dogs with long and thick hair round 

 the external meatus, such as dachshunds, setters and poodles, 

 are chiefly attacked, as in them the ear wax does not soon dry 

 up and soon decomposes because of the increased warmth in the 

 auditory canal. 



The sjmiptoms consist in violent itching and severe pain, 

 shaking the head, scratching of the ears, crying out or whining 

 without apparent cause, and holding the head obliquely or 

 stiffly, accordingly as one or both ears are affected. At the 

 commencement or in a slight case the animals show pleasure 

 when the ear is scratched or pressed, but later they avoid being- 

 touched; they even show an inclination to bite and appear surly 

 and dejected. The external meatus usually contains a copious, 

 yellowish, chocolate-colored to dark brown smeary ill-smelling 

 secretion (otitis catarrhalis according to Becker) produced by 

 a mixture of the serous exudate with the copiously secreted 

 ceramen; sometimes it produces complete occlusion of the ear 

 passage, and in consequence loss of hearing and matting of 

 the hair around the ear. If pressure is exercised on the base 

 of the ear, the secretions produce a squashing or popping noise. 

 Sometimes one finds on the contrary merely a greenish yellow, 

 evil-smelling pus without visible admixture of ear wax (otitis 

 purulenta according to Becker). The skin itself appears dif- 

 fusely reddened, swollen, sometimes cracked and easily bleed- 

 ing, especially on the crests of its folds. Through long continu- 

 ance the process becomes chronic, and leads to the formation 

 of bleeding spots which may be as large as a cent piece. These 

 show no tendency to heal, especially at the folds (otitis ulcerosa 

 according to Becker), and if healing is effected, relapses occur 

 readily. The complaint may be accompanied by slight to mod- 

 erate fever. 



In the meantime, a new formation of connective tissue 

 takes place in the neighborhood of the ulcers, through which 

 warty granulations form or more frequently a diffuse firm 

 thickening of the whole auditory meatus occurs (otitis chronica 

 hyperplastica according to Becker) and even lime salts may be 

 deposited, as a result of which the ears may stand out from the 

 head. At times the ear passage is completely closed through 

 thickening of its Avail, and then the few glands which have re- 

 mained unaffected change to cyst-like cavities. As sequelae of 

 otitis may be noticed: othematoma, ulceration of the tip of 



